Charles L. Smith Sr., 82
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Former Pittsfield Mayor Charles L. Smith Sr., 82, of 182 Hancock Road died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at Berkshire Medical Center, surrounded by his family.
Mayor Smith led the city for nearly a decade, serving four terms between 1980 and 1988. Prior to that, he represented Ward 7 on the City Council, and also served as a councilor at large and council president.
Born in Stephentown, N.Y., April 18, 1933, the son of Francis L. Smith and Martha Stricker Smith Duclos, his father was killed in an auto accident just prior to his birth. His mother later married the late George Duclos, his stepfather. He attended Pittsfield schools and upon enlisting with the U.S. Marine Corps, he quite proudly earned his general equivalency diploma while in the Corps.
A Korean War veteran, he served in the Artillery Unit of 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, which was based at the foothills of Mount Fuji in Japan.
Upon returning from the service, he rejoined Nesbit's garage before going to work for Dodge Construction doing roadwork, installing telephone poles and construction explosive work. Mayor Smith later became employed as the maintenance director for the Pittsfield Housing Authority before entering the 1980 mayoral race.
He left his post as the city executive to take a job with Krofta Engineering Corp. in Lenox, becoming executive vice president of the Lenox Institute of Water Technology Inc. He considered bringing safe, clean water to Pittsfield his greatest achievement in life.
Although he retired in 1999, he never lost interest in local politics nor the many civic causes he supported.
While stationed in Japan, he and his fellow Marines "adopted" an orphanage there that was operated by an Italian order of nuns. Together, they helped the nuns to feed, clothe and shelter the ever-growing orphan population. Returning some 30 years later with his wife, Patricia, as an invited guest, they met Sister Malfalda, who was operating the orphanage. She had remembered Mayor Smith when he was stationed there with the Marines and expressed the nuns' gratitude for the continued Marine support of the orphanage.
During this trip, they met and began the proceedings to adopt then 6-year-old Kazou Kinoshita, who became their 7th child. The couple also opened their home to nearly 100 foster children, finding room for many youngsters and teens with troubled lives. The fostered so many children for so long, that they fostered children of their former foster children.
''I think the most we had at one time were seven foster children, in addition to our own kids,'' Mayor Smith told The New York Times in 1987. ''But we always found room.''
A loyal husband and devoted father and grandfather, he loved children, loved to read and of course, politics, local state and national. He also enjoyed hunting and playing golf and was known to enjoy the occasional horse race. He was a past commander of the local Marine Corps League and a member of Charles A. Persip American Legion Post 68; a life member of Lt. John N. Truden Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 448, he served as the clerk of the works when its new post home was built on Linden Street.
He and his wife, the former Patricia A. Eastland, were married May 17, 1952.
In addition to his wife of nearly 64 years, he leaves two daughters, Charlene O'Brien of Lee and Mary Beth Eckert and her husband, John, of Pittsfield; four sons, Charles L. Smith Jr. and his wife, MaryLouise, and Kazuo Smith, all of Pittsfield, Christopher F. Smith and his wife, Dale Scalise-Smith, of Convington, Ky., and Carlton Smith and his wife, Sarah, of Lanesborough; his brother, Arthur Duclos of Pittsfield; 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and nearly 100 foster children.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Pamela Walton Smith, who died last year, his sister, Martha Duclos, and his brother Francis Smith.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Calling hours for Mayor Smith will take place on Thursday, Feb. 11, at St. Charles' Church from 4 to 7. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow Friday morning, Feb. 12, at 10 with the Rev. Peter A. Gregory, pastor, officiating.
Burial will take place at a later date in the Cemetery of the Evergreens. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to either Soldier On or to Hospice BVNA, both in care of Devanny-Condron Funeral Home, 40 Maplewood Ave, Pittsfield, MA 01201.